The Eagle has landed … on the unemployment line.
The Eagles and Doug Pederson ended their estranged marriage on Jan. 11, with the Eagles announcing that they have parted ways with the Super Bowl-winning coach.
Pederson and the Eagles, coming off a disappointing 4-11-1 season, have regressed since winning Super Bowl 52 just three years ago, with Carson Wentz’s struggles at the forefront. In Week 17 of the 2020 regular season, Pederson inexplicably turned to third-string quarterback Nate Sudfeld in the fourth quarter of their matchup with the Washington Football Team, benching Jalen Hurts and cratering the team’s chances of winning. The move, which many questioned and labeled as actively tanking, ruffled many feathers across the league and painted a bullseye on Pederson’s back.
Owner Jeffrey Lurie decided to pull the trigger on Pederson, leaving the seventh head-coaching vacancy in the NFL so far this offseason.
Here’s what we know about the final days of Pederson’s tenure in Philadelphia.
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Why did the Eagles fire Doug Pederson?
According to multiple reports, power, directive and impatience all played into the “parting of ways” (read as: firing) of Pederson as head coach of the Eagles.
First, ownership was reportedly dissatisfied with the team’s 4-11-1 performance this year, which featured the regression of former MVP candidate Carson Wentz. There were also heads scratched over Pederson’s decision to insert Nate Sudfeld (benching Jalen Hurts, while Carson Wentz was inactive) in the Week 17 loss to Washington.
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network boiled it down more simply: Pederson largely grew dissatisfied with the amount of say he was getting from the front office and the owner, leading to Pederson’s willingness to want to leave the organization.
After speaking with two people close to former #Eagles coach Doug Pederson, it sounds like this is what it boiled down: Pederson was sick of people telling him what to do.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 11, 2021
Reports broke last year that GM Howie Roseman forced Pederson to fire offensive coordinator Mike Groh, a move that Pederson was very unhappy with.
MORE: Can the Eagles trade Carson Wentz?
RE: Doug Pederson’s firing. This has been boiling since last offseason when Jeffrey/Howie Roseman pressured him to fire OC Mike Groh.
As I reported in Sept., Pederson was angry. He initially threatened to quit, per sources close to him. #Eagles didn’t take seriously then.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) January 11, 2021
ESPN’s Adam Schefter also reported that Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie may have been disappointed with the vision of the future of the franchise with Pederson at the helm, leading to both sides agreeing to move on. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero also reported on NFL Network that ownership and Pederson were unable to come to terms on what staff to assemble moving forward, with the Wentz decision at the forefront.
More on Doug Pederson firing: Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie wanted to take time to evaluate situation and look ahead to the future. He met with Pederson a few times. Lurie wanted to dive into what the vision for the future was and how the Eagles could return to contending. So….
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 11, 2021
With Pederson now out in Philadelphia, Wentz is expected to return in 2021.